Rover 3500SE

Rovers start with the SD1 was not one of the best. By the end of the 80’s Rover were atlast getting to grips with the car’s lack of appointments and its poor build qualit. The“1981-season” models introduced at the Motor Show in october 1980 demonstrated theirdetermination to make the car worthy of the old Rover Company’s tradition ofexcellence.By 1981 Rover, five instead of the previous four SD1 models introduced. From the bottomof the range the 2300 became better equiped and called the 2300S. The popular middlerange car was upgraded in specifications and became the 2600S and the mainstream 3,5-litre was now called 3500SE. The heavily revised top model was known as the VandenPlas. The 3500SE was the first and undeniably classic Rover of the new generaton. It won everymayor British and Continental motoring award for design, safety and overall concept waswidely acknoledged as the most significant advance in car design for decades. Together with the Rover Vanden Plas model this was first of the two V8-engined Roversand undeniable motor classic. The highly efficient, compact Rover V8 engine developed155 bhp and delivers and exhilarating performance in town or country. There were many detail changes to the cars' appearance for 1981. Outside were less far-reaching, but new paint colours and bright housings for the door mirrors were a welcomerevitalisation for the range, and all models now had the extrafrontal air intake introduced on the V8-S. More important, however, was that bodies were now being painted at Cowley instead of Solihull, and the new process used thereguaranteed much better quality. And from the V8S the SE models came with alloy wheels.On the Vanden Plas, these were machined and painted dark grey.Denovo wheels and tyres remained available, and were a no-cost option (with alloywheels, of course) on both V8 models, There were additional identifyingbadges reading "2600" or "V8" on the front wings of all models with those engines. TheVanden Plas was readily recognised from the rear by black badges and the bright finish onits exhaust tailpipe; like the 3500SE, it also had a rubber strip on both front and rearbumpers, though its large front overriders containing washerjets for the headlamps cost extra if specified on other models. In addition, the VandenPlas had black rubber bump-strips in the body-side indentations,and shared a V8-S-style twin coachline with the 3500SE. Tinted glass was also standard onthe two V8 models, but only optional on all the others.

Rover 3500SE

Rovers start with the SD1 was not one of the best. By the end of the 80’s Roverwere at last getting to grips with the car’s lack of appointments and its poor buildqualit. The “1981-season” models introduced at the Motor Show in october 1980demonstrated their determination to make the car worthy of the old RoverCompany’s tradition of excellence.By 1981 Rover, five instead of the previous four SD1 models introduced. From thebottom of the range the 2300 became better equiped and called the 2300S. Thepopular middle range car was upgraded in specifications and became the 2600Sand the mainstream 3,5-litre was now called 3500SE. The heavily revised topmodel was known as the Vanden Plas. The 3500SE was the first and undeniably classic Rover of the new generaton. Itwon every mayor British and Continental motoring award for design, safety andoverall concept was widely acknoledged as the most significant advance in cardesign for decades. Together with the Rover Vanden Plas model this was first of the two V8-enginedRovers and undeniable motor classic. The highly efficient, compact Rover V8engine developed 155 bhp and delivers and exhilarating performance in town orcountry. There were many detail changes to the cars' appearance for 1981. Outside wereless far-reaching, but new paint colours and bright housings for the door mirrorswere a welcome revitalisation for the range, and all models now had the extrafrontal air intake introduced on the V8-S. More important, however, was thatbodies were now being painted at Cowley instead of Solihull, and the new processused there guaranteed much better quality. And from the V8S the SE models camewith alloy wheels.On the Vanden Plas, these were machined and painted dark grey.Denovo wheels and tyres remained available, and were a no-cost option (with alloywheels, of course) on both V8 models, There were additional identifyingbadges reading "2600" or "V8" on the front wings of all models with those engines.The Vanden Plas was readily recognised from the rear by black badges and thebright finish on its exhaust tailpipe; like the 3500SE, it also had a rubber strip onboth front and rear bumpers, though its large front overriders containing washerjets for the headlamps cost extra if specified on other models. In addition, theVanden Plas had black rubber bump-strips in the body-side indentations,and shared a V8-S-style twin coachline with the 3500SE. Tinted glass was alsostandard on the two V8 models, but only optional on all the others.